Sharon,
vimentin should be demonstrated in the intermediate filaments in stromal tissue.  the reason it is used as a fixation control test is because intermediate filaments are found in all tissue samples and the antigen is fairly sensitive to over fixation.  therefore, if the vimentin antigen is preserved and demonstrated you can be fairly sure that all other antigens of interest are preserved.
Patsy

E Sharon Shields wrote:

> When using vimentin as control for fixation, what elements of the tissue do you evaluate when the tumor cells are negative? I read an article  on this a few years ago , but I do not remember where I read it.  I think it was be
>  Dr. Clive Taylor. Does any one have a reference or information  on this question?
> Thank you,
> Sharon Shields
> Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee
> Knoxville, TN
>
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